New Protections for Healthcare Workers

<p>Supplemental material, Video 1: sj-vid-1-pic-10.1177 0954406218779612 for Self-adaptive grasp analysis of a novel under-actuated cable-truss robotic finger by Shangling Qiao, Hongwei Guo, Rongqiang Liu, Yong Huang and Zongquan Deng in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science</p

Table_1_Gut microbiota modulates differential lipid metabolism outcomes associated with FTO gene polymorphisms in response to personalized nutrition intervention.DOCX

BackgroundInterindividual differences in response to personalized nutrition (PN) intervention were affected by multiple factors, including genetic backgrounds and gut microbiota. The fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene is an important factor related to hyperlipidemia and occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies have explored the differences in response to intervention among subjects with different genotypes of FTO, and the associations between gut microbiota and individual responses.ObjectiveTo explore the differential lipid metabolism outcomes associated with FTO gene polymorphisms in response to PN intervention, the altered taxonomic features of gut microbiota caused by the intervention, and the associations between gut microbiota and lipid metabolism outcomes.MethodsA total of 400 overweight or obese adults were recruited in the study and randomly divided into the PN group and control group, of whom 318 completed the 12-week intervention. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of rs1121980 in FTO was genotyped. Gut microbiota and blood lipids were determined at baseline and week 12. Functional property of microbiota was predicted using Tax4Fun functional prediction analysis.ResultsSubjects with the risk genotype of FTO had significantly higher weight and waist circumference (WC) at baseline. Generalized linear regression models showed that the reduction in weight, body mass index (BMI), WC, body fat percentage, total cholesterol (TCHO), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was greater in subjects with the risk genotype of FTO and in the PN group. Significant interaction effects between genotype and intervention on weight, BMI, WC, TCHO, and LDL were found after stratifying for specific genotype of FTO. All subjects showed significant increasement in α diversity of gut microbiota after intervention except for those with the non-risk genotype in the control group. Gut microbiota, including Blautia and Firmicutes, might be involved in lipid metabolism in response to interventions. The predicted functions of the microbiota in subjects with different genotypes were related to lipid metabolism-related pathways, including fatty acid biosynthesis and degradation.ConclusionSubjects with the risk genotype of FTO had better response to nutrition intervention, and PN intervention showed better amelioration in anthropometric parameters and blood lipids than the control. Gut microbiota might be involved in modulating differential lipid metabolism responses to intervention in subjects with different genotypes.Trial registration[Chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR1900026226].</p

Visualization 1: Suppression of projector distortion in phase-measuring profilometry by projecting adaptive fringe patterns

3D reconstruction result with the proposed method Originally published in Optics Express on 19 September 2016 (oe-24-19-21846

Visualization 1: Stitching interferometry of full cylinder by use of the first-order approximation of cylindrical coordinate transformation

3D video of stitching result Originally published in Optics Express on 20 February 2017 (oe-25-4-3092

Salt-Induced Stabilization of EIN3/EIL1 Confers Salinity Tolerance by Deterring ROS Accumulation in <i>Arabidopsis</i>

<div><p>Ethylene has been regarded as a stress hormone to regulate myriad stress responses. Salinity stress is one of the most serious abiotic stresses limiting plant growth and development. But how ethylene signaling is involved in plant response to salt stress is poorly understood. Here we showed that <i>Arabidopsis</i> plants pretreated with ethylene exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt stress. Gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that EIN3 (ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3) and EIL1 (EIN3-LIKE 1), two ethylene-activated transcription factors, are necessary and sufficient for the enhanced salt tolerance. High salinity induced the accumulation of EIN3/EIL1 proteins by promoting the proteasomal degradation of two EIN3/EIL1-targeting F-box proteins, EBF1 and EBF2, in an EIN2-independent manner. Whole-genome transcriptome analysis identified a list of <i>SIED</i> (<i>Salt-Induced and EIN3/EIL1-Dependent</i>) genes that participate in salt stress responses, including several genes encoding reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers. We performed a genetic screen for <i>ein3 eil1</i>-like salt-hypersensitive mutants and identified 5 EIN3 direct target genes including a previously unknown gene, <i>SIED1</i> (At5g22270), which encodes a 93-amino acid polypeptide involved in ROS dismissal. We also found that activation of EIN3 increased peroxidase (POD) activity through the direct transcriptional regulation of <i>POD</i>s expression. Accordingly, ethylene pretreatment or EIN3 activation was able to preclude excess ROS accumulation and increased tolerance to salt stress. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the molecular action of ethylene signaling to enhance plant salt tolerance, and elucidates the transcriptional network of EIN3 in salt stress response.</p></div

Biochemical and Structural Insights into the Mechanism of DNA Recognition by Arabidopsis ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3

<div><p>Gaseous hormone ethylene regulates numerous stress responses and developmental adaptations in plants by controlling gene expression via transcription factors ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3) and EIN3-Like1 (EIL1). However, our knowledge regarding to the accurate definition of DNA-binding domains (DBDs) within EIN3 and also the mechanism of specific DNA recognition by EIN3 is limited. Here, we identify EIN3 82–352 and 174–306 as the optimal and core DBDs, respectively. Results from systematic biochemical analyses reveal that both the number of EIN3-binding sites (EBSs) and the spacing length between two EBSs affect the binding affinity of EIN3; accordingly, a new DNA probe which has higher affinity with EIN3 than <i>ERF1</i> is also designed. Furthermore, we show that palindromic repeat sequences in <i>ERF1</i> promoter are not necessary for EIN3 binding. Finally, we provide, to our knowledge, the first crystal structure of EIN3 core DBD, which contains amino acid residues essential for DNA binding and signaling. Collectively, these data suggest the detailed mechanism of DNA recognition by EIN3 and provide an in-depth view at molecular level for the transcriptional regulation mediated by EIN3.</p></div

Crystal structure of EIN3 core DNA-binding domain (PDB code 4ZDS).

<p>(A) Sequence alignment of the core DBD of EIN3 proteins in different species produced by the Clustal Omega program. Sequences of the EIN3 proteins from <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> (AtEIN3, O24606), <i>Phalaenopsis equestris</i> (PeEIN3, Q711J2), <i>Oryza sativa</i> (OsEIN3, Q8W3M0), <i>Triticum urartu</i> (TuEIN3, M8A6N5), <i>Zea mays</i> (ZmEIN3, B6U809), and <i>Nicotiana tabacum</i> (TEIL, Q9ZWK1) are obtained from the UniProt database. Numbers above the sequences are for AtEIN3. Basic (His, Arg and Lys) and acidic (Asp and Glu) residues presented here are colored blue and purple, respectively. Colored boxes above the sequence alignment indicate helical structures of EIN3 core DBD. Identical and similar residues are marked by * and: respectively. BD III, BD IV and proline-rich region defined in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439#pone.0137439.g001" target="_blank">Fig 1B</a> are also indicated, and the sequence alignment includes the second highly conserved region in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439#pone.0137439.g001" target="_blank">Fig 1B</a>. (B) Crystal structure of EIN3 core DBD in two orientations (90° rotation along the indicated axis), which has the same coloring with the sequence alignment in (A). (C) Electrostatic surface potentials of EIN3 core DBD in the same orientation to (B). The proline-rich region, BD III and BD IV are indicated by blue, green and orange circles, respectively.</p

ACC/Ethylene pretreatment or enhanced ethylene signaling increases salt tolerance.

<p>(A) Plants were grown on MS medium with or without 10 µM ACC for 5 d and then transferred onto MS medium supplemented with 200 mM NaCl for 3 d. Plants were also transferred onto MS medium as controls. (B) Survival rate of plants shown in (A). Seedling death was scored as complete bleaching of cotyledons and leaves. Values are mean ± SD from 25 seedlings per replicate (<i>n</i> = 3 replicates). (Student's <i>t</i> test, *P<0.05 and **P<0.01). (C) Relative electrolyte leakage of plants shown in (A). Values are mean ± SD from 50 seedlings per replicate (<i>n</i> = 3 replicates). (Student's <i>t</i> test, *P<0.05 and **P<0.01). (D) Survival rate of plants pretreated with air (Air) or 20 ppm ethylene (ET) for 5 d and then transferred onto MS medium supplemented with 200 mM NaCl. Survival rates were calculated on the second, third and fourth day. Values are mean ± SD from 20 seedlings per replicate (<i>n</i> = 4 replicates). (Student's <i>t</i> test, *P<0.05 and **P<0.01). (E) Survival rate of plants pretreated with air or 20 ppm ethylene for indicated time and then transferred onto medium supplemented with 200 mM NaCl. Survival rates were calculated on the third day after transfer. Values are mean ± SD from 20 seedlings per replicate (<i>n</i> = 4 replicates). A5E0: 5 d of air treatment. A2E1A2: 2 d of air followed by 1 d of ethylene then 2 d of air treatment. A1E2A2: 1 d of air followed by 2 d of ethylene then 2 d of air treatment. A0E5: 5 d of ethylene treatment. ET: ethylene. (Student's <i>t</i> test, *P<0.05 and **P<0.01).</p

The optimal and core DNA-binding domains of EIN3.

<p>(A) A Schematic model for EIN3 action in multiple signaling pathways. (B) Schematic structural diagram of full length and truncated EIN3 proteins. Acidic region, coil region, proline-rich region, basic domains, and asparagine-rich domain are represented by different color filled boxes. Highly conserved regions are also indicated by red boxes. (C) Representative EMSA results of different EIN3 truncations binding to a 3’–biotin labeled <i>ERF1</i> probe. Specific EIN3 truncations used for each lane are shown in the upper panel and the fraction bound is shown in the lower panel. EIN3 114–352 displayed minimal binding under the current protein concentration, yet clearly bound to DNA at higher concentration (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439#pone.0137439.s003" target="_blank">S3C Fig</a>). In addition, the same amount of different EIN3 truncations was used in each PAGE-gel in order to have better visual comparisons, and similar results were obtained at other concentrations of proteins (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439#pone.0137439.s003" target="_blank">S3A Fig</a>). “B”: bound; “F”: free. (D) Relative binding data for 0.2 μM truncated EIN3 proteins with <i>ERF1</i>. The data were normalized to the fraction bound of 82–352 with <i>ERF1</i>; error bars represented the standard deviation from three independent experiments. (E) EMSA results of the core DBD (174–306), which retained the ability to bind to <i>ERF1</i>.</p

Functional characterization of <i>SIED</i> genes identifies a novel regulator of salt tolerance.

<p>(A) Plants were grown on MS medium for 5 d and then transferred onto MS medium supplemented with 200 mM NaCl for 4 d. Experiments were repeated three times with similar results. (B) Survival rate of plants shown in (A). Values are mean ± SD from at least 50 seedlings per replicate (<i>n</i> = 4 replicates). (C) qRT-PCR analysis of <i>SIED1</i> expression. (D) Histochemical analysis of <i>SIED1</i> expression in Col-0, <i>ein3eil1</i> and <i>EIN3ox</i> plants. (E) <i>pSIED1:GUS</i> activity in Col-0, <i>ein3eil1</i> or <i>EIN3ox</i> background (Student's <i>t</i> test, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001). (F) Overexpression of SIED1 in wild-type enhanced salt tolerance. Seedlings were grown on MS medium for 5 d and then transferred onto MS medium supplemented with 200 mM NaCl for 4 d. Experiments were repeated three times with similar results. (G) Survival rate of plants shown in (F). Values are mean ± SD from at least 50 seedlings per replicate (n = 3 replicates). (H) and (I) Overexpression of SIED1 in ein3eil1 or sied1 backgrounds enhanced salt tolerance. Fresh weight (H) and survival rate (I) were measured (Student's t test, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001).</p